No Go Zones For Real Estate Near Chennai Bird Reserves

Builders will have to steer clear of all areas within a radius of 5 KM around wildlife sanctuaries in Chennai & surrounding localities. To start with, the forest department has declared areas around 3 sanctuaries - Vedanthangal, Karikili and Pulicat - no go zones for real estate developers &  banned any kind of real estate ventures there. 

A team of forest officials led by forest range officer Mr. R Dhanasekaran explained the restrictions on new constructions & repair of existing structures within 5 KM of the 3 sanctuaries to residents, elected representatives including panchayat presidents & village administrative officials of 20 villages, at a meeting organized by the state forest department in Vedanthangal bird sanctuary on recently..

The restrictions are meant to ensure that there will be no change in land pattern around the sanctuaries because, forest officials said, such changes could stop birds from migrating to the sanctuaries & play havoc with their migratory patterns.

Some of the migratory birds that flock to these 3 sanctuaries are the Little Cormorant, Night Heron, Grey Heron, Spoonbill, Little Egret, Large Egret, White Ibis, Cattle Egret, Pintail, Common Teal, Pond Heron or paddybird, Shoveller Duck, Dabchick, Indian Moorhen, Darter or snakebird, Grey Pelican & Open-Bill Stork.

Thandarai, Karunkulazhi, Mangalam, Nellavai Kutt Road, Rettamangalam, Vaiyyur, Perumbakkam & Vellaputhur are among the villages where the restrictions will come into place.

"We organised the meeting on the instructions of wildlife warden Mr. V. Karunapriya. Such meetings will be held continuously & we will monitor activity in these areas to prevent violation of the restrictions," said Mr. R Dhanasekaran, forest range officer of the Vedanthangal, Karikili & Pulicat bird sanctuaries.

Forest officials said there is a general lack of awareness in these areas, even among village heads &  village administrative officers, on laws & rules to protect the environment, animals & birds.

DTCP Notice..!

The state's DTCP (Department of town and country planning) had in August 2011 issued a notice to a developer for not obtaining prior permission to construct a farmland resort less than 500 metre from Vedanthangal bird sanctuary. The DTCP also sent a notice to Vedanthangal village panchayat president Ms. Vasanthi Lakshmi for approving the plot.

The area around a bird sanctuary is usually wetland. "Areas near the sanctuaries are also feeding & breeding grounds for various birds," said Mr. S. Saravanan, chief education officer, World Wildlife India (Tamil Nadu chapter). "Migratory birds regularly visit sanctuaries only after checking for regular availability of water & identifying if they are suitable for breeding. Such areas should be protected."

Apart from real estate ventures, restrictions also placed on construction of factories, industrial units and mining in the 3 sanctuaries. The restrictions are based on a Supreme Court order and instructions from the National Board for Wildlife (NBW) prohibiting any non-forest activities in areas around all sanctuaries.

Residents of these areas have, however, been given permission to repair their houses & also to construct new houses if they meet stipulated standards for height & width.

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